The Big Story

Google search ads appear on a host of unsavory and offensive sites, according to recent Adalytics research. And without any transparent reporting from Google, marketers can’t do anything about it.

This week we take a look at the rise of new specialist DSPs that thrive in respective categories, regardless of the power of omnichannel giants. Also, why targeting US Hispanic audiences – and targeting by language and ethnicity in general – has been so messy and inaccurate.

Ad tech companies are being graded on transparency and compliance with sharing log-file data. The use of log file data for advertisers is discussed, including its value as a transparent source of information. UID 2.0 in CTV advertising is explored, along with its benefits and limitations. Disney's recent updates to their ad capabilities on Disney Plus are highlighted. Paramount's CTV ad platform and the rise of programmatic in CTV are also discussed.

As Omnicom’s $835 million acquisition of commerce specialists Flywheel Digital attests, commerce media is flush. Then, why the most sophisticated and data-rich programmatic marketers are intrigued by custom algorithms.

The impact of tech on monetization – from SPO sustainability initiatives to the looming end of the cookie and the challenges of implementing its replacements – has publishers feeling jaded. Plus, for retail media fans: inside the Pantry Wars.  

Yahoo Backstage is a “sorta SSP” that’s emblematic of a larger SPO trend that hops over either DSPs or SSPs. Plus: a primer on the ecommerce ad metrics and tools that are changing how marketers buy digitally, from ACOS to TROAS to cost capping.

Scam ads featuring AI-generated celebrities are catching the FTC’s attention. Hear what the creator economy fears about generative AI. Plus: the latest on the US v. Google trial.

Does Google have a monopoly on search? The trial to answer that question is underway, and we go through the juiciest highlights.

The AdExchanger editorial team recaps what we learned in data privacy, retail media and connected TV at this year’s Programmatic IO.

The widening “trust gap” between consumers and the ad industry is enough to make a chief privacy officer quit. So Arielle Garcia did. She explains why.